What happens when you stop asking high schoolers “what they want to be” and start asking them “how they would solve this?”
Innovation and creativity happen in real-time.
Mark Connor and I represented our businesses, Provable Solutions LLC and Good Works Results LLC, at the Lake Park High School Career Fair. While we were honored to be among 50+ diverse organizations spanning everything from health sciences and engineering to public service, we wanted to offer something that went beyond a standard career pitch.
We wanted to showcase that the sky is the limit when you have the grit to solve problems.
Flipping the Script: The Solution Board
Instead of handing out flyers, we set up an interactive “Solution Board.” It was a 6×5 grid of real-world business challenges based on projects Mark and I are actually working on today. We did not want students to just read about a job; we wanted them to step into the role of a founder.
Our guiding principle for the day was simple: “There are no problems. Only solutions you haven’t thought of yet.”
3 Takeaways from the Next Generation
We had a high-energy day with hundreds of freshmen and sophomores. Three major trends stood out from our Entrepreneur Table:
- Meaning Over Money: It was fascinating to see how many students instinctively pitched non-profit models. This generation is not just looking for a paycheck; they want to build meaningful initiatives that give back to their community.
- The Underclassmen are Ready: The Freshmen and Sophomores showed up with sharp, creative minds. They did not just “play along.” They brought viable, sophisticated ideas to every brainstorm we threw at them.
- The Hustle is Already Happening: We met two brothers who are already operational! They run a costume-character business and masterfully use local Facebook groups to find their audience. Another student looked at a community challenge and reimagined his own home as a safe, sustainable hangout spot for local teens.
A Personal Investment in Our Community
For Mark and me, this event was more than just business networking. We both have children who will be Lancers in a few years. Getting to know the dedicated staff and these brilliant students confirmed that our community’s future is in great hands.
The Founder’s Mindset
Entrepreneurship and community service are not just career paths. They are mindsets. They represent the ability to see a gap in the world and have the courage to fill it.
At Provable Solutions LLC and Good Works Results LLC, we believe that when you work hard and stay curious, the possibilities are endless. A huge thank you to the Lake Park staff for organizing such a high-impact event. We are already looking forward to seeing what these future founders do next.